Packing member

ABSTRACT

A packing member formed of fiber-reinforced silicon rubber is disclosed for use in an electric connector and compressed by a pressure cover in the housing of the electric connector to seal electric wires.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to packing members and more particularly, to a compressible packing member, which automatically repairs damage to keep airtight after having been inserted with an external object.

2. Description of the Related Art

A packing is a sealing or filling material used in connecting or sliding faces between mechanical parts or apparatus to keep airtight or prevent leakage. It has a certain power of deformation. Subject to purpose of use, a packing may have the properties of heat resistance, pressure resistance, corrosion resistance, water resistance, oil resistance, and/or wear resistance. It is difficult to seal the connecting or sliding faces between mechanical parts or apparatus against external dust and water. More particularly in an electric connector, it is difficult to seal the electric wires against external dust and water. If the electric wires of an electric connector are not well sealed, the electric wires tend to be covered with dust and water may leak in the housing of the electric connector, resulting in an error of contact or short circuit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide a packing member, which is compressible and which automatically repairs damage to keep airtight after having been inserted with an external object.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a packing member, which effectively seals the protected members against dust and moisture.

To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the packing member comprises a compressible pad body, which is able to return to a former shape after being compressed, and a reinforcing layer formed of fibers embedded in the compressible pad body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a packing member according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the packing member used in an electric connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 2 but showing electric wires inserted through the electric connector and the packing member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a packing member 10 is shown comprising a pad body 11 and a reinforcing layer 12 formed in the pad body 11. The pad body 11 is molded from silicon rubber. The reinforcing layer 12 is formed of fibers. Selected fibers are mixed with liquid silicon rubber, forming a fluid mixture, which is then injection-molded into the desired packing member 10. The packing member 10 is compressible. The packing member 10 is able to return to its former size and shape after being compressed. The reinforcing layer 12 improves the mechanical properties of the pad body 11.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 and FIG. 2 again, the packing member 10 can be used in an electric connector 20 to seal electric wires 30. As illustrated, the electric connector 20 comprises a housing 21 and a pressure cover 22. The housing 21 comprises a receiving open chamber 23 in the front side. The packing member 10 is inserted into the receiving open chamber 23 to seal electric wires 30. The housing 21 further comprises a plurality of through holes 24 arranged into four rows and extended through the back wall in communication with the receiving open chamber 23 for the passing of a respective electric wire 30, and a plurality of retaining holes 25 respectively formed in the peripheral walls around the four sides. The pressure cover 22 is fitted into the receiving open chamber 23 to hold down the packing member 10, having a plurality of retaining blocks 26 respectively protruded from the four peripheral walls and respectively forced into engagement with the retaining holes 25 of the housing 21 and four rows of through holes 27 respectively aimed at the through holes 24 of the housing 21.

For easy insertion of electric wires 30 through the packing member 10, the packing member 10 is cut with a cutting tool or the like to form crossed or X-shaped crevices (not shown) through the front and back sides corresponding to the through holes 24 of the housing 21.

There are many ways to hold the packing member 10 tightly in the receiving open chamber 23 of the housing 21. The use of the pressure cover 22 is one of the practical ways to hold the packing member 10 tightly in the receiving open chamber 23 of the housing 21. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pressure cover 22 fits the receiving open chamber 23 in shape and size. After insertion of the packing member 10 in the receiving open chamber 23 of the housing 21, the pressure cover 22 is press-fitted into the receiving open chamber 23 to hold down the packing member 10 and to force the retaining blocks 26 into engagement with the retaining holes 25 of the housing 21. After engagement of the retaining blocks 26 with the retaining holes 25, the pressure cover 22 is firmly secured to the housing 21 to hold down the packing member 10.

After installation of the packing member 10 and the pressure cover 22 in the receiving open chamber 23 of the housing 21, electric wires 30 are respectively inserted through the through holes 27 of the pressure cover 22 and the crevices of the packing member 10 and the through holes 24 of the housing 21 (see FIG. 4). Because the packing member 10 is compressible, the packing member 10 automatically snaps at the outer insulative cover layer of each electric wire 30 after insertion of the electric wires 30 through the packing member 10, and therefore the electric wires 30 are well sealed against outside dust and moisture.

Alternatively, the packing member 10 can be formed in the receiving open chamber 23 of the housing 21 to seal the electric wires 30 after connection of the pressure cover 22 to the housing 21 and insertion of electric wires 30 through the through holes 27 of the pressure cover 22 and the through holes 24 of the housing 21. Of course, a filling hole must be provided at the housing 21 or pressure cover 22 so that the fluid mixture of fibers and liquid silicon rubber can be filled into the receiving open chamber 23 to form a packing member in the receiving open chamber 23 of the housing 21.

The annexed drawings show a use of the packing member 10 in an electric connector 20 to seal electric wires 30. However, the packing member 10 can still be used in any of a variety of mechanical mechanisms and implements to seal device parts or circuit means.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

1-3. (canceled)
 4. A packing member adapted for use with an electric connector comprising: a compressible pad body, said pad body returning to an original shape after a compressing force is removed, and a reinforcing layer formed of fibers embedded in said compressible pad body; wherein said pad body is compressed with a cover of a housing of the electric connector around a plurality of wires, said pad body expanding to fill an entire interior space within the housing, so that said wires are thereby protected from dust and moisture,
 5. The packing member of claim 4, wherein: said compressible pad body is injection-molded from silicon rubber subject to a predetermined size and shape, and the fibers of said reinforcing layer are mixed in said silicon rubber before molding of said silicon rubber into said pad body.
 6. The packing member as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said compressible pad body is molded from silicon rubber in an enclosed chamber in a device to be packed, and the fibers of said reinforcing layer are mixed in said silicon rubber before molding of said silicon rubber into said pad body in said enclosed chamber. 